We All Want Small Government, But…
I feel hypocritical about my stance about big government. In a way, I think most of us should. Generally, when we say we’re for small government, what we mean is that we’re for the elimination of all those wasteful programs – the ones we personally don’t support. Like almost everyone, I claim to be for small government. But out of the other side of my mouth, I believe that if we don’t invest in a sustainable energy strategy, we’re sunk.
In a post on the role of government a few months ago, I noted that, despite the rhetoric to the contrary, neither party has done anything to restrict the size of government – nor even restrain its growth. The only real question at stake is the types of programs that are going to predominate the spending of a certain administration. Personally, I’m more afraid of ruining our environment and poisoning all living things on Earth than I am of a lot of the other priorities the governments of the world may have. But that’s just me.
There are lots of problems to be solved in the world, and the private sector, more focused than ever on short-term profits, is, in many cases, simply the wrong tool for the job.
Dan Conine
We get the government we purchase at the stores. Our dollars spent determine both the influence of corporations and the demand for services to protect our stuff. Humans have gone ‘open loop’ with consumption, and the only decisions we reall…y make are at the cash register. The rest is just a bunch of noise. Elections only pick between candidates that have been vetted by money.
That’s why we need, before any other government decision, the FairTax. Moderation of consumption would create stability instead of boom/bust cycles. Allowing people to receive all of their income and to choose how to spend it, while also eliminating the IRS and the stress of April 15th would stimulate the economy, especially local, foundational economies. http://www.fairtax.org/
If we want to limit government, we first have to reduce the demand for government services, both in our unnecessary accumulation of property and the ability of corporations to receive benefits through the income tax code.